TH Nuremberg with City Logistics Project in Neumarkt

Future deliveries by cargo bike? In October 2022, a project cooperation between the city of Neumarkt in the Upper Palatinate and the PedeListics team led by Professor Ralf Bogdanski from the Technical University of Nuremberg will begin. The aim of the joint project is to investigate the local possibilities and framework conditions for sustainable retail and parcel logistics via cargo bike in Neumarkt.

(Nuremberg/Neumarkt) At the start of the project cooperation between the city and the Technical University of Nuremberg, Neumarkt’s Mayor Thomas Thumann and the city’s climate protection manager Hidir Altinok met with the project team led by Prof. Dr. Ralf Bogdanski in Nuremberg. Also present were the university president Prof. Dr. Niels Oberbeck and the dean of the Faculty of Business Administration Prof. Dr. Frank-Ulrich Fricke.

By 2024, new solutions for the growing challenges of urban logistics are to be explored as part of a joint research project: Bavaria’s cities are suffering from constantly increasing traffic and the associated air pollution, while online retail is booming and delivery traffic for parcels and small shipments is steadily rising. Since 2016, Prof. Dr. Bogdanski has been researching cargo bike logistics and has confirmed the economic viability of using cargo bikes in commercial contexts in previous projects. “Cargo bike logistics makes a valuable contribution to environmental protection and the preservation of urban quality of life, for example through reduced traffic areas, less noise, or locally emission-free deliveries,” explains Professor Bogdanski.

In the current project cooperation, two areas of application for cargo bikes specifically for Neumarkt will be investigated: on the one hand, deliveries from local retail and on the other hand, deliveries from the courier, express, and parcel (KEP) sector.

Retail deliveries via cargo bike

The retail logistics concept considers the possibility for citizens to shop locally while having the desired goods delivered to their homes. The cargo bike plays a key role as a locally emission-free means of transport. Various scenarios are conceivable within the concept, from shopping on-site and later delivery to home, to ordering via phone or an online platform. Surveys will investigate the framework conditions and the willingness to use and participate among Neumarkt citizens and retailers.

At the meeting, Mayor Thumann emphasized the importance of such logistics concepts in his city: “Such a system is particularly suitable in Neumarkt, where the distances are generally rather short regarding sustainability aspects. Energy savings, less traffic, and better air quality are just a few positive effects of this logistical orientation. I sincerely hope that this joint project will not only be well received by many but that many will also participate, so we can see what potential exists and what logistical requirements must be met in everyday use. Given the current energy shortage and high energy prices, this concept represents a very future-oriented solution for me.”

Parcel deliveries via cargo bike

In addition to the use of cargo bikes for delivery processes in local retail, the use of cargo bikes in the KEP sector will also be investigated in Neumarkt. This cooperation builds on an existing research project by Professor Bogdanski, which examines the additional integration of public transport into cargo bike logistics on the last mile. Professor Bogdanski explains the innovative approach: “The now well-known micro-depot concepts, where packages are transferred from the KEP transporter to the cargo bike at centrally located points, are usually not economically viable in smaller medium-sized cities. The travel distance of a transporter to the transfer point to the cargo bike is too far, so we want to investigate whether packages can also cover this distance using public transport.”

The large KEP service providers are interested in the project

Professor Bogdanski also reports that all major KEP service providers have expressed interest in participating and are open to discussions. He says: “This allows us to simulate our concepts with real data and assess their suitability. Additionally, the broad involvement of municipalities, transport companies, and cargo bike manufacturers enables the various stakeholders’ requirements for public transport integration to be adequately considered in KEP logistics.”

In the coming months, the PedeListics team led by Professor Bogdanski will begin work to capture the potentials in Neumarkt. Results are expected in early 2024.

Photo: © CNA / Image caption (from left to right): Prof. Dr. Frank-Ulrich Fricke, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, THN | Dr. Johannes Kraus, Manager of the Logistics Initiative Bavaria, CNA e.V. | Hidir Altinok, Climate Protection Manager, Office for Sustainability Promotion, City of Neumarkt i.d.OPf. | Prof. Dr. Niels Oberbeck, President, THN | Thomas Thumann, Mayor of Neumarkt i.d. OPf. | Marc Reed, Project Staff PedeListics, THN | Carina Siefert, Research Associate and Project Staff PedeListics, THN | Prof. Dr. Ralf Bogdanski, Professor of Sustainable Urban Logistics and Project Leader PedeListics, THN